Plans for Great Winter Run race ahead despite weather

Published on Monday 4 January 2010 20:40

ONE of the biggest televised events in Edinburgh's sporting calendar is due to go ahead despite the freezing conditions.

Organisers last night vowed that the Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country race through Holyrood Park this weekend is still on track.

Saturday's race – which is expected to feature Ethiopian stars Kenenisa Bekele and Gebre Gebremariam – is the centrepiece of a day of events being held under the Bupa Great Winter Run Banner.

More than 2,500 participants are due to take part in a 5km run which will precede the main "elite" event, due to be shown live on BBC1. Runners as young as seven are also due to take part in a 2.5km fun run.

The events are being organised by Nova International, a Newcastle-based firm set up by former British Olympic track star Brendan Foster. It also promotes Newcastle's Great North Run.

A spokeswoman said last night: "Everything is on track at the moment for this Saturday.

"We're getting updates from the council as to what the weather and conditions are like, but we do have contingency plans in place."